Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi.
Some members of the Asante Youth group, led by their spokesperson; Kwarteng Amaning Spokesperson for the group,
Group Appeals to Otumfuo To Ban ‘Wontumi’ From Manhyia Palace, Others.
A youth group by name Asante Youth (AY) has in a press conference appealed to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II to place a ban on the Ashanti Regional Chairman for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as ‘’ Chairman Wontumi’’ from entering the Manhyia Palace or any other palace in the Asante Kingdom.
Addressing the media early Monday morning, Kwarteng Amaning, spokesperson for the group said the NPP regional chairman had demonstrated disrespect to the Asante Monarch at a recent vetting process of the party in Asokwa where Kokosohene, a royal to Otumfuo was present.
The spokesperson noted that it was unthinkable for Chairman Wontumi to allegedly claim that he owned a kingdom in Asanteman when there was only one Kingdom with one Overlord, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.
‘’We’ve called you to this press conference to make you aware of our decision to call on Otumfuo to ban Chairman Wontumi from entering his palace or any other in the Ashanti Region because he has shown gross disrespect to Otumfuo for claiming he could disagree with the Asantehene on any issue that comes up for discussion’’, the spokesperson stated.
Scene:
Earlier on, scores of market women from various markets in the Kumasi Metropolis stormed the place of the event in buses and commercial vehicles .
Chanting what sounded like war songs and brandishing miniature lags representing the Asanteman colors, the traders made their way into the hall at the National House of Chiefs,venue for the event.
During the address by the spokesperson, the traders applauded and at some points chanted war songs intermittently.
The traders numbering over two hundred at a point drowned the voices of the media that were covering the event.
Background:
On the 3rd of January, 2024 the NPP held its vetting process at their offices at Krofrom and Asokwa respectively.
Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, Manhyia South MP appeared at the venue some minutes after 2pm and for about 45 minutes he was seen smiling when he was coming back to his car having picked number 1 on the ballot as his two challengers picked numbers 2 and 3.
In an interview, the MP noted his desire to do his best for the party in his current position as Minister and MP and said he had delivered in both capacities to enable him win the 27th January primary Manhyia South.
However, for about two weeks now speculations have been rife in media circles as to what really transpired during the vetting of Dr Prempeh.
This portal is now able to say issues that was raised at today’s press conference by the Asante Youth have arisen out of the supposed happenings where Chairman Wontumi and the Kokosohene are reported to have exchanged some words in the presence of the party’s national organiser, Henry Nana Boakye and other members of the vetting who numbered close to twenty (20).
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